Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Autumn 2013 | Page 54

WHEATON in

the world

After Kathmandu
What’s changed for two psychology professors
who traveled to Nepal to teach and conduct research?
by Monica M. Jones

h

ome to eight of the world’s ten tallest
mountains, including Mount Everest,
Nepal draws adventure-seekers from
every corner of the globe. But while the
country’s mountainous terrain attracts
tourists, it can limit access to resources.
In fact, the limited educational resources
drew Dr. Sarah Hall, assistant professor
of psychology, and Dr. Terri Watson
M.A.’86, associate dean of psychology, to
Kathmandu, the nation’s capital, for three
weeks last summer to train mental health
professionals and lay people.
In this ancient, sprawling city,
Dr. Watson says, “Significant mental
health needs, combined with few
resources, result in mental health workers
being stretched to the limits of their
capacity and competency.”
Partially funded by the Wheaton
College Alumni Association as well as
a teaching award Dr. Watson received,
the trip came about thanks to an alumni
connection. Becky Locke Thorson M.A.
’92, M.A. ’94, a former graduate student
of Dr. Watson, told her about the need for

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These Nepalese women attended a course on child and
adolescent counseling skills taught by Dr. Sarah Hall.

mental health education in this corner of
the world. Becky has worked in Nepal for
30 years with her husband, Dr. Stephen
Thorson M.A. ’92.
Preparing for the professors, Becky
surveyed mental health professionals in
Kathmandu and found that the primary
needs were for training in clinical
supervision and counseling children and
adolescents. Many in the church also
expressed a need for training on living in
good relationship with others.
Dr. Watson, who was responsible
for teaching the course on clinical
supervision, says, “It was a privilege to
come alongside of these dedicated and
highly competent professionals and
provide ‘capacity building.’”
Dr. Hall taught a child and adolescent
counseling skills course to a group of
school counselors, nurses, and other
helping professionals. Both professors
collaborated with Mandy Kellums M.A.
’13 to teach a course on healthy family
living, covering topics such as basic child
development, parenting, discipline,

With travels ranging from rural landscapes to
places listed as a World Heritage site, Drs. Terri
Watson (below, far left) and Sarah Hall (below,
left) learned about the culture and customs in
Nepal. They were there to teach skills in clinical
supervision and child and adolescent counseling
to lay people and mental health professionals,
including these two individuals (right) who are
involved in pastoral-care ministry.